Nintendo Files Patent For Game Boy Smartphone Case

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When clasped over a smartphone, the buttons will interact with the device's touchscreen, leading us to wildly speculate that Nintendo is planning to release an official Game Boy app that will house the handheld's classic catalogue of titles.

According to a recent patent application filed this Spring, the Japanese tech company may be working on a Game Boy phone case built with operational buttons. The front cover buttons have a conductive sheet on the inside so that the touchscreen can sense their input.

It is possible that Nintendo will be releasing the Game Boy phone case as soon as this holiday season.

"Either way", reports Siliconera, "it seems that some sort of Game Boy emulation may be in the works at Nintendo, either for smartphones, tablets, or the Nintendo Switch". Hopefully, these will be offered free with the case, but it wouldn't be wholly surprising if Nintendo tried to charge £9.99 per game or only supported Kirby's Dream Land. From the product's appearance this sounds more likely than it being designed and produced for new mobile games. While there are a few Nintendo games on the Android and iOS platforms, it looks like more may be coming. Is there a size minimum and maximum?

The description also confirms that the top and bottom of the phone won't be obstructed, meaning you'll be able to plug in a headphone or charger during play.

Whether there's enough good ones to justify what is probably going to be quite an expensive smartphone case remains to be seen though.